Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Voices from the Past: Dixie Carroll on the Pflueger All-in-One

Over the next several months, I’m going to feature the fishing tackle writing of one of my all-time favorite writers, Dixie Carroll (Carroll Blaine Cook). These famed pieces of tackle were featured in his great book Fishing Tackle and Kits. They are fascinating write-ups of the tackle from a contemporary perspective. Below is Dixie’s write up on the Jamison Fly Rod Wiggler, one of the earliest true fly rod lures.\

PFLUEGER ALL-IN-ONE MINNOW - Made by the Enterprise Mfg. Co., Akron, Ohio. This new bait of the P8uegers is a very good one and will no doubt be as popular as their P8ueger-Surprise Minnow which is sure a dinger in the plug line. The AU-in- one bait is a combination 8oater and underwater affair and is made of selected red cedar. The enameling is of water-proof porcelain and is practically indestructible. Continued casting among the shore rocks, windfalls and logs failed to more than nick it on the sharp edges- no cracks or chips were noted. This hammering of a plug among rocks, however, is treatment no angler gives his artificials, but it shows that the stuff stands up under exceptional hard usage. The minnow is mounted with two hand-forged treble hooks with patented fasteners which allow hooks to be removed and attached quickly. There are four metal planes with each minnow, one to give it a rotary motion; one keeping the minnow well on the surface and throwing a natural ripple similar to live surface-swimming baits; one to make it dive shallow with a wiggle like a crippled minnow, and the other diving deep with the same darting minnow-like motion. These planes can be changed instantly to meet all conditions of water. Made in the killing colors and luminous for night- fishing. This lure proved attractive to bass, pike, musky, and the green and white to wall-eye pike. The new four-hundred-page catalog of the Enterprise Mfg. Co. is one of the most comprehensive books on fishing tackle issued for some time and deserves a place in the library of every fisherman where it can be used for reference. The original leaping-bass design on the cover is a corker and will make you pant for the call of lake and stream. The "Pflueger Guarantee" of workmanship and material is behind this new bait, and it will live up to that guarantee.

About Me

My name is Dr. Todd Larson, and I am a college history professor who writes on the history of fishing in America. I started this blog to help people better understand their outdoor heritage. I am originally from Duluth, Minnesota and live in Southwestern Ohio with my wife, daughter, three fish, two cats, and a dog.